Social Enterprise 'Idea' Challenge

Students of IIT Madras bagged first prize in the second edition of National level Social enterprise Idea challenge organized at our Electronic city Campus on 21st Oct 2017.

The Social Enterprise Cell organizes the Idea Challenge every year with a purpose to provide students of Colleges and Universities across India an opportunity to explore social entrepreneurship and share their innovative ideas in a rigorous and competitive manner. The event also acts as a great networking platform for young minds to meet each other, exchange thoughts and showcase their talent and skills to some of the early stage mentors and funders.

Gobinath P, Shreeram R and Santosh G V from IIT Madras emerged winners for their idea on ‘Modular Housing’ - An Idea of foldable housing to address the need of Temporary shelter to rehabilitate the disaster affected victims and refugees across the world. The conventional methods don’t provide safety, privacy or Insulation from the extreme climatic conditions. This model addresses the gap by introducing cheap, portable, doable and quick to set up Modular Housing solutions for needy.

Ranjith Kumar and Akhil Krishna from Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, won the second prize for their idea on ‘Reinforced Accoustic Tiles’ which included Utilization of Agro Waste and Housing material using straw.

The third prize was shared between two colleges – Niranjan Kargi from Angadi Inst. Of Technology and Management, Belgaum and Nitish J Bhagat from Montford College, Bangalore for their projects on Portable Water filter device and ‘Rise’ – a platform to bridge the gap in the mental health sector respectively.

More than 100 teams participated and submitted their innovative solution models in the first round. The submissions were broadly in the domains of education, livelihood, health, sustainability and governance. 15 teams were shortlisted for the finale which was evaluated by eminent panel of Jury members including Sanjay Anandaram and Ganesh Rengaswamy, both very active in the Social Entrepreneurship scenario as mentors and funders.

In his keynote address, Mr. Sudheesh Venkatesh, Chief People Officer, Azim Premji Foundation said “Social Enterprise play a very important role in today’s India since we are also facing the huge issue of jobless growth. The Social enterprises not only contribute in creating new jobs but also make social impact in an equitable and inclusive manner”.

Media coverage

Stay Connected

About Social Enterprise cell

Azim Premji University was established under the Azim Premji University Act 2010 of the Government of Karnataka. Azim Premji Foundation, the sponsoring body set up the University as a fully philanthropic and not-for-profit entity, with a clear social purpose. The University’s key mission is to prepare graduates with great competence, integrity and social commitment who can contribute to the Education and Development sectors in India.

The Social Enterprise cell of the University reflects that vision as many students are trying to come up with innovative solutions to some of the most complex social problems. This will be a platform to share, debate and discuss those ideas and connect with individuals and like-minded groups.

Living aspiration, friendship and
love through music make life at Azim
Premji University beautiful. Here I
found freedom in belonging

Ritu Gopal
M.A. in Development I Class of 2014

If only life itself was amazing as
it is at Azim Premji University. Or
perhaps henceforth we could make it.

Lavanya Murali
M.A. in Education I Class of 2014

The intellectual storehouse that are
the students and the faculty.
Something we could tap into any time
and come out satisfied and
stimulated.

R. Sridhar Rao
M.A. in Development I Class of 2014

‘‘
’’

It was in Gudalur, an amazing
landscape in the Nilgiri district of
Tamil Nadu, that I did my two week
field immersion. The exposure to the
vast share of unseen indigenous
knowledge and culture of the Adivasi
community in Gudalur was an exciting
experience.